Chelsea vs Portsmouth 1 - 0

MATCH REPORT: CHELSEA 1 PORTSMOUTH 0

Chelsea made it two from two at home in the league as we edged out a determined Portsmouth side at Stamford Bridge today, with Frank Lampard netting the only goal of the game.

The win takes us to the top of the table as Manchester City lost at Arsenal, and manager José Mourinho will be delighted at his side's first clean sheet of 2007/8, which never looked in too much danger of being breached on this hot afternoon.

There was only one change to the Chelsea side that earned a draw up at Anfield last weekend, with Claudio Pizarro replacing Salomon Kalou up front in a 4-4-2 formation.

The Peruvian started the game in fine fettle, crashing an early shot just wide of David James' post, and then just failing to put Lampard in on goal.

After ten minutes it was Pizarro again at the centre of things, creating space for Malouda after linking with Lampard. The Frenchman's shot found the side netting, but it showed we were already in the ascendancy.

Two minutes later and it was Malouda's turn to tee up Pizarro. His inswinging free kick was perfectly measured, but Pizarro headed over when a goal looked likely.

The visitors' first opportunity came in the 20th minute, as Lauren and O'Neil combined down the right hand side. The Cameroon international crossed low into the six yard box, but Michael Essien, again filling in at right back, was able to cover and clear.

Shortly later Matt Taylor came close, as Kanu laid the ball back, and his right-footed curler was deflected inches wide by the boot of Ben-Haim.

With Portsmouth beginning to take a hold on the game, José Mourinho was an animated figure inside his technical area, in contrast to Pompey manager Harry Redknapp, who appeared to be enjoying the August sun.

It wasn't long though before the Blues were celebrating, as Drogba brought Cech's long ball down and laid to Lampard, whose low shot took the slightest of deflections of the underside of Hreidarsson's outstretched boot, and under James.

Chelsea were one up up, and Drogba, who took a knock from Distin in assisting the goal, was OK to continue.

The goal seemed to galvanise the home side, and within a minute Wright-Phillips had tested James again, firing a hard shot into the keeper's chest that he struggled to hold.


Before half-time there was time for Lampard to try his luck again from a free-kick. Fully 30 yards out, his shot swerved and dipped, but James kept his eye on it and was able to gather at the second attempt.

Just before the break Taylor, again on his weaker right foot, tried a cheeky chip over Cech, but the goalkeeper's judgment was spot on, and the ball fell a foot over the bar.

Both teams emerged unchanged for the second half, and it was Chelsea on the offensive immediately.

Malouda rode two challenges from O'Neil before finding Drogba, whose incisive reverse pass found Wright-Phillips who had tucked into an inside left position, but his shot was off target.

Six minutes into the second half, Sean Davis was booked for a foul on Malouda.

Two minutes later, Davis should have put Portsmouth level. Kanu's strength and trickery inside the Chelsea box found space for the midfielder, but he fired over from eight yards.

It was a timely reminder for the Blues that Pompey weren't going to simply roll over, and if that wasn't enough, the counter attack that followed five minutes later should have been, as O'Neil found acres of space but shot just wide from 20 yards.

That was O'Neil's final involvement as he was replaced on the hour by Zimbabwean Benjani, who took a central role up front with Kanu as Utaka began to operate down the left.

In response, Mourinho replaced Pizarro with Kalou in a straight swap. Moments later Juliano Belletti was given his first taste of action in a Chelsea shirt, as he came on for Mikel, with Essien moving to his favoured central midfield role.

From there Essien was able to take the game by the scruff of the neck, and found Malouda in space.

From a central position, the winger fired a powerful effort, looking for his third goal in a Chelsea shirt, but with James beaten, it flew just wide of the top corner.

It was the Ghanaian who gave the ball away in midfield that allowed the visitors their best chance.

He was dispossessed by international team mate Muntari, whose instinctive pass released Benjani, but he lacked composure and shot over.

Kalou made his first contribution in the 78th minute, as he twisted and turned before striking his shot straight at James.

For now, Chelsea were looking comfortable, and the more likely to score. Belletti, who had been untested defensively, released Drogba, who raced with Campbell and James to get there first, and it was the England centre back who got there first, making a perfectly timed tackle to ensure the deficit remained at one.

Redknapp's final throw of the dice came after 82 minutes as he brought on Pamarot and Nugent for Lauren and Taylor.

It very nearly worked, as from a Muntari corner, Ashley Cole was forced to head off the line from Hreidarsson's goalbound header after Nugent's shot had been blocked.

As full-time approached the Portsmouth pressure increased, and Ben-Haim was forced to hack clear following a Sean Davis free kick.

As it was though, we held on for the three points, and on the balance of play it has to be said it was deserved. Portsmouth, for all their endeavour, had rarely threatened Cech's clean sheet, whereas we had looked dangerous on the attack.

Frank Lampard made it three for the season, taking him to the top of the scoring charts, and with ten points from our opening four games, it's been a very good start to the season.

Chelsea (4-4-2): Cech; Essien, Ben-Haim, Terry (c), A Cole; Wright-Phillips (J Cole 74), Mikel (Belletti 64), Lampard (c), Malouda; Pizarro (Kalou 62), Drogba.

Goals Lampard 30
Booked

Portsmouth (4-4-2) James; Lauren (Pamarot 82), Distin, Campbell (c), Hreidarsson; O'Neil (Benjani 60), Muntari, Davis, Taylor (Nugent 82); Kanu, Utaka.

Goals
Booked Davis, Muntari